Job Posting: Communications Director

The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA) is an advocacy organization that promotes common-sense policies for local, diversified agricultural systems. We work at both the state and federal level, doing lobbying and grassroots organizing for farmers, ranchers, artisan food producers, and local food consumers.

The Council for Healthy Food Systems, a sister (c)(3) to FARFA, promotes diversified local and regional foods systems that are healthy, safe, economically sound, and environmentally sustainable. CHFS is a new organization that will focus on education and research.

FARFA and CHFS are seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to become the Outreach and Communications Director for both organizations. This is a full-time (40 hours a week) position, including some evenings and weekends, and some travel within Texas. The Outreach and Communications Director will report directly to the Executive Director.

Our base of operations is in Texas; while the majority of the day-to-day work can be done remotely, the position requires the ability to be physically present in Central Texas on an irregular schedule.

Responsibilities:

Membership retention and development: identify and recruit new members; retain current members and cultivate increasing involvement; develop and implement a communications plan for potential, existing, and lapsed members.

Public outreach: develop messages and strategy for website, email, and social media platforms; develop materials for distribution at a range of venues, including farmers’ markets and other local food outlets, environmental events, sustainable farming events, and conventional farming events.

Business outreach: identify and recruit businesses consistent with the organizations’ missions as business members, conference sponsors, and other partnership opportunities.

Inspiring action: develop messages and strategy for engaging both members and non-members in activism on issues such as reducing regulations on local food producers, providing for sustainable water sources for agriculture, and other focus issues.

Volunteer development: Develop and implement a volunteer program including recruitment, training, coordination, and recognitions of volunteers; organize volunteers to assist with the annual conference, special events, local outreach efforts (e.g. tables at farmers’ markets), and provide support for specific projects (e.g. research on specific topics).

Event management: In coordination with the Administrative Assistant and Executive Director, play a key role in organizing our annual conference and a biennial citizens lobby day, as well as occasional local events. Responsible for logistical coordination (facility, rentals, caterer, etc), publicity (designing promotional materials for web and print; promote event to appropriate audiences/ communities and in relevant media); organizing volunteers; and soliciting sponsors and silent auction donors (including managing donor benefits).

Fundraising: In conjunction with the responsibilities listed above, create and implement a fundraising plan; identify funding sources; includes working with the Executive Director on large donor development and grant applications.

Media relations: Manage media relations, including drafting and sending press releases, pitching stories to TV and radio outlets, bloggers, and news sites in order to reach priority audiences.

Internal Communications: Work closely with the Executive Director; the Communications Director will also communicate and work cooperatively with the Boards of both organizations and the Administrative Assistant.

Compensation

Competitive for similar positions in Texas, depending on experience and skills

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of two years’ experience in successful communications, marketing, and/or fundraising positions

Excellent communication skills: written and verbal, over phone, email, and in person

Public relations and media experience

Experience managing social media and website for a nonprofit or small business

Computer skills: proficient in Word, Excel, WordPress, and Photoshop/ InDesign or similar software.

Work well as part of team, but also self-motivated and disciplined to work independently

Good at juggling multiple projects while meeting deadlines and addressing projects in order of priority